The Catholic community in general is very giving, which in turn leaves them to be a bit vulnerable when it comes to helping those in need. Instead we ask you to avoid sending money via Venmo/PayPal, and suggest they reach out to their local ministry for support.
There have been several incidents on this sub.
What is your guys opinion on IUI/artifical insemination?
i know IVF is a different thing from IUI but there's mostly negative opinions on that so i was curious if this would be the same
Me Catholic practicing (28F) and fiancé Greek Orthodox non practicing (40M) have been together for about 2.5yrs and now wanting to get married and start a family. He spoke to me about his addiction to pornography about 1 yr ago, of which I would never have known unless he told me. From this conversation (he was seeing a therapist at this time) I was under the impression that he was quitting although he didn’t state it exactly that he would.
Two days ago, I caught him watching porn. I feel so hurt and betrayed by this, and feeling like I’m not good enough, etc… I have been crying since I found out, it’s so hurtful.
Yesterday I met with my priest to actually discuss the process of getting married and what the next steps are. Unfortunately this conversation ended up talking about his addiction at his age and concerned about if he could quit and whether or not this could damage our marriage in the future.
I then decided to speak to my partner about this issue. He was offended by the priest saying that he is not good enough/ doesn’t deserve marriage (partners words not the priests). He did say that he never stated that he was quitting pornography in the conversation 1 yr ago. He also said that he has a lot of religious guilt from the orthodox priest about pornography, but his therapist said that he was using it as a coping mechanism which may not have been a bad thing. So he continued to watch “soft porn” so that he wouldn’t go down a heavier porn path?
He was apologetic about watching porn and how it had hurt me. It was never intentional to hurt me but to help alleviate stress not for pleasure. He has said that he does want to stop but doesn’t know how to find other coping mechanisms for stress. He knows it’s only short term relief and it’s a quick fix.
Please can I get advice? I do love him and want to work through this but I also understand it’s not my issue to deal with but his.
Bible readings for Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs;
Reading 1 : 2 Pt 1:2-7
Gospel : Mk 12:1-12
https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-june-3-2024/
Prayer is a powerful and deeply personal practice that holds different meanings and significance for people across the world. It's a way to connect with the divine, seek guidance, offer gratitude, and find solace in times of need. One of the most renowned prayers is the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, which holds a special place in Christianity. While it is a concise prayer, it is rich in meaning and offers several insights into the nature of prayer itself. Let’s explore seven insightful things we can learn about prayer from the Lord’s Prayer.
https://thecatholic.online/7-insightful-things-we-can-learn-about-prayer-from-the-lords-prayer/
What good is it for us to learn the teachings of the Christian faith if we don’t put them into action? https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/06/we-must-follow-what-truth-tells-us-to-do/
To which point would arguing with your parents be considered venially or mortally sinful? (If you're not an adult yet)
I don't even know if this is considered an argument, but it mostly included of my dad yelling at me and me failing to understand some of the arguments he was making. (+ me also trying to explain myself, considering my actions accidentally led to my dad being upset.)
Diary of Saint Faustina - paragraph 586 - Service and Resistance
But as for you, fear nothing; I am always with you. And know this, too, My daughter: all creatures, whether they know it or not, and whether they want to or not, always fulfill My will.
This excerpt raises many questions and probably none of them can be answered inarguably. It raises questions of predeterminism and whether we really have choices in our actions. It raises questions of how Hitler, Stalin or any other evil person can serve God's will. I suspect God is speaking above all our obvious questions though. I think even in the precreationary age before the works of Genesis, creation already existed in God's Word, Will and Logos. Creation wasn't yet released by God but was still present in His Spirit, pre-formed in His Word and in eternal servitude to His will. All creation came out of God's Spirit and inherited His will the same way an embryo inherits the nature of the parent.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Psalm 118:90-91 Douay Rheims Challoner Bible - Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth. By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.
The will of God is hereditary to “all creatures,” meaning all the various products of creation, everything from a grain of sand sloshing around in the ocean to a volcano destroying one landscape as it creates another. It includes the cute kittens playing with each other and the hungry eagle snatching one of them up to feed to her offspring. And it includes the complex moral interplay between the good and evil acts of all men on one another. All of these things, the good, the bad and the ugly serve God's will, but not necessarily in the moment of occurrence or in ways we understand. Why does God allow tyrants to rise to power and wreak havoc upon the world? The answers and rebuttals from thoughtful men and women can go forever but God already explained it before any of us asked the question.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Exodus 9:15-16 For now I will stretch out my hand to strike thee, and thy people, with pestilence, and thou shalt perish from the earth. And therefore have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee, and my name may be spoken of throughout all the earth.
God spoke those words through Moses to Pharaoh, a tyrant who thought himself a god and enslaved God's Chosen People. He was anathema to God but still served as a tool in Salvation History according to God's Will. God raised Pharaoh high in the fallen world only so he would fall before God, to serve as an object lesson of God's sovereignty over all things, especially Egypt, the superpower of the ancient world. This is how God can say to Saint Faustina, “all creatures, whether they know it or not, and whether they want to or not, always fulfill My will.” God's will is the redemption of our species and creation at large and all things work toward that end. Pharaoh was one cog in the wheels of salvation history and in ignorant subjection to God's will but what else could he be in a universe hardwired to serve God's will? Any soul that rejects God's will still serves God, whether in ignorance or in disastrous resistance; all things serve God.
The release of God's Chosen People from bondage served salvation history because it allowed them to proceed in their destiny of becoming a light to the Gentiles and the people from whom the Messiah would come forth. Pharaoh could have willingly served God's will and avoided his downfall by releasing the Hebrews when first called to do so. Resisting God's will only delayed their release and ultimately increased Pharoah’s unwilling service to God. The Exodus of God's people from Egypt became calamitous because of Pharaoh's resistance and that calamity didn't happen in a vacuum. The surrounding nations knew about God's hand in the Hebrew Exodus and wisely chose to not take that news lightly. Beginning with Rahab in Jericho, and spreading throughout the globe, God's name would come to be “spoken of throughout all the earth,” all spurred by a tyrant rejecting God's Word but unwittingly fulfilling His will nonetheless.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Joshua 2:9-10 I know that the Lord hath given this land to you: for the dread of you is fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land have lost all strength. We have heard that the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea, at your going in, when you came out of Egypt:
Mass readings : Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Reading 1 : Jude 17, 20b-25
Gospel : Mk 11:27-33
https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-june-1-2024/
Dialogue of Saint Catherine - Seeing and Judging
That which you do not see you should not judge in your mind, even though it may externally be open mortal sin, seeing nothing in others, but My will, not in order to judge, but, as has been said, with holy compassion. In this way you will arrive at perfect purity, because acting thus, your mind will not be scandalized, either in Me or in your neighbor. Otherwise you fall into contempt of your neighbor, if you judge his evil will towards you, instead of My will acting in him. Such contempt and scandal separates the soul from Me, and prevents perfection, and, in some cases, deprives a man of grace, more or less according to the gravity of his contempt, and the hatred which his judgment has conceived against his neighbor.
This first line of this entry from The Dialogue confuses me, “That which you do not see you should not judge in your mind, even though it may externally be open mortal sin, seeing nothing in others, but My will, not in order to judge, but, as has been said, with holy compassion.” It raises the question, if we don't see something, how could we be judging it anyway so why do we need a warning against judging that which we're not seeing in the first place? I may be wrong but my best guess is that we’re not supposed to be intentionally trying to “see” or sniff out the sins of others, whether they be mortal sins or venial. In our fallen world we can presume we'll encounter some type of sin in our dealings with everyone we meet but we don't need to “see” their sin just because we're aware of it. We just know we're going to be bumping into the sins of others all day long, every day of our life and those same sinners will be bumping into our sin at the same time. But we don't need to turn on some sin radar so that we immediately “see” the particulars of their sin as we first encounter them. We're supposed to encounter others with an outgoing shield of “holy compassion,” as stated in the last part of that confusing first sentence.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance: but judge just judgment.
Just judgment first includes a much more scrupulous judgment of self than others and secondly includes a simple knowledge that all others share the same curse of sin that we do. It also includes seeing beyond the sin we all know is there, peering into our neighbor and seeing God's Will in that person, “not in order to judge, but, as has been said, with holy compassion.” I think that means, we lead into all our dealings with others magnifying the grace we already have from God, from interior self to external world, creating a spirit or aura of grace around ourselves. This way, as we go through our life in this world, everyone bumping into the sins of one another, those fellow sinners who bump into us will also be bumping into that aura of God's grace that we magnify. We will stifle the outgoing judgment of men and magnify the interior grace of God to others, much like Mary stifled the interior interests of self to magnify the exterior presence of Christ.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Mary exemplifies what Saint Catherine speaks of; the “holy compassion” of rejecting self so that God's Divine Mercy, which is Christ, can burst forth through us into the lives of others. This happened physically through Mary but can also happen spiritually through all of us, if we “see” the sins of others not by sniffing them out to look at them through the lense of human judgment, but through Godly mercy and holy compassion instead. If we can do that we avoid the pitfalls our judgment of others brings onto ourselves, as described in the second part of Saint Catherine's entry. We will not then become scandalized or contemptuous of our neighbor through our unholy judgment of him, and more importantly, not separated from God's grace, which we need so much more anyway, than our neighbor needs ours.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again
Reflecting on the end of the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, let's take a moment to ponder the profound mysteries and the grace that flows through this time-honored prayer:
**The Joy of Humility: The Annunciation**
In the quiet of our hearts, we echo Mary's 'yes,' a testament to humility. May we embrace God's will with the same courage and trust, allowing His plans to unfold in our lives.
**The Embrace of Service: The Visitation**
As Mary journeyed to Elizabeth, her steps were a melody of service and love. Let us walk in her example, seeking to serve others with joy and selflessness.
**The Light of the World: The Nativity**
In the simplicity of a manger, the Savior was born. May the light of Christ born into our world illuminate our paths and guide us to live in His love and peace.
**The Dedication to God: The Presentation**
Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple, dedicating Him to the Lord. May we dedicate our actions and days to God, presenting our lives as a living offering.
**The Finding of Jesus: The Child Jesus in the Temple**
Amidst anxiety and searching, Mary found Jesus in the temple. In our own moments of uncertainty, may we find solace in the presence of God, who is always with us.
As the beads slip through our fingers and the prayers ascend, may the reflections of this sacred month linger in our hearts, guiding us closer to Jesus through Mary's loving intercession. 📿✨
Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 349
|| || |1st Reading|1 Peter 1:18-25| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20| |The Acclamation|Mark 10:45| |Gospel|Mark 10:32-45|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, According to Jesus, in Today’s Gospel Reading Mark 10:32-45, serving others is the way to real greatness. It is humility, not worldly greatness, that characterizes Jesus' life again and over again.
My dear friends, Jesus Knowingly went to the Cross.
Jesus Purposefully approached the Cross.
Jesus Confidently approached the Cross.
Jesus Willingly went to the Cross.
To help us live the lives we were meant to live and to liberate the world from the guilt of sin, Jesus Willingly, Knowingly, Confidently, and Purposefully went to the Cross.
The Gospel Reading for Today instructs us to share the Gospel with everyone we meet, whenever the chance arises, through our words, deeds, and thoughts.
Let us Pray
Lord, forgive us for putting power above service. Lord, Forgive us for seeking fame instead of humility. Lord, Forgive us for moving forward when we should have stayed on the sidelines. Amen.
Beloved:18 For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold;
19 it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw.
20 He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.
22 Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for your fellow-believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart.
23 For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.
24 As the scripture says: “All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord remains for ever.” This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.
12 Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;praise your God, O Zion.13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;he has blessed your children within you.R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
14 He has granted peace in your borders;with the best of wheat he fills you.15 He sends forth his command to the earth;swiftly runs his word!R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.20 He has not done thus for any other nation;his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.45 The Son of Man cane to serve,and to give his life as a ransom for many.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
32 Jesus and his disciples were now on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of the disciples, who were filled with alarm; the people who followed behind were afraid. Once again Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and spoke of the things that were going to happen to him.
33 “Listen,” he told them, “we are going up to Jerusalem where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn him to death and then hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 who will mock him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him; but three days later he will rise to life.”
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “there is something we want you to do for us.”
36 “What is it?” Jesus asked them.
37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
39 They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
43 This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest;
44 and if one of you wants to be first, he must be the slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.”
I thank all my subscribers for your constant support of this channel. If you like the content I am sharing, subscribe to this channel and experience peace, joy, and faithful friendship in your life and with your family.
Join our community, share your thoughts, and find solace and strength in the loving protection of Mother Mary. Subscribe now and embark on a spiritual journey with us.
Friday, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 572
|| || |1st Reading|Zephaniah 3:14-18A or Romans 12:9-16| |Responsorial Psalm|Isaiah 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6| |The Acclamation|Luke 1:45| |Gospel|Luke 1:39-56|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, What does Luke 1:46–56, the Gospel for Today, teach us? Mary realized that she was fortunate to have experienced amazing experiences in her life. Upon realizing their origin, she expressed gratitude to God.
My dear friends, Additionally, Mary showed her willingness to surrender to the Lord's plan for her life, which would change her permanently, as found in Today's Gospel, Luke 1:46–56. She was looking for surrender. Any challenge that God asked of her, she was ready to complete. To the One who made her, her heart was submissive. For God, everything is possible, as the virgin birth reveals.
My dear friends, We must acknowledge God's omnipotence. to recognize kindness and express appreciation to God, who is its source. As Christians, it is our duty to both identify the presence of Jesus in others, as Elizabeth did and to bring Jesus to others, as Mary did.
Let us Pray
"Heavenly Father, through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, you extend unending grace, mercy, and forgiveness to us. Assist me in leading a life full of grace, just like Mary did, by having faith in your words and offering you my wholehearted "yes" to your will and plan for my life. Amen.
14 Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, people of Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has ended your punishment; he has removed all your enemies. The LORD, the king of Israel, is with you; there is no reason now to be afraid.
16 The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Do not let your hands hang limp!
17 The LORD your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The LORD will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you,
18A as joyful as people at a festival.”
2 God indeed is my savior;I am confident and unafraid.My strength and my courage is the LORD,and he has been my savior.3 With joy you will draw waterat the fountain of salvation.R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
4BCD Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;among the nations make known his deeds,proclaim how exalted is his name.R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
5 Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;let this be known throughout all the earth.6 Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,for great in your midstis the Holy One of Israel!R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.45 Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
39 Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea.
40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me?
44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lordwould be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me blessed:
49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me, holy is his Name.
50 From one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honour him.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
52 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!”
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
I thank all my subscribers for your constant support of this channel. If you like the content I am sharing, subscribe to this channel and experience peace, joy, and faithful friendship in your life and with your family.
Join our community, share your thoughts, and find solace and strength in the loving protection of Mother Mary. Subscribe now and embark on a spiritual journey with us.
Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 350
|| || |1st Reading|1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 100:2, 3, 4, 5| |The Acclamation|John 8:12| |Gospel|Mark 10:46-52|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, According to Today's Gospel, Mark 10:46–52, we must continue shouting, just like Bartimaeus did! Keep shouting in the face of illness, suffering, loneliness, injustice, violence, and hate. Never give up.
My dear friends, Whatever is holding us captive will be freed because God answers our prayers. According to Romans 10:13, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." All who approach Jesus in humility and faith are able to be saved because of His death and resurrection. Let's go to Jesus, receive healing, and follow in his footsteps.
Let us Pray
Thank You, Son of David and Lord of Mercy, for giving Your life as a sacrifice to heal and save. Assist us in providing for the hungry and the excluded. Please help us to trust You with confidence and humility. Grant us the heart to hear the cries of those who look to us for our assistance. Amen.
1st Reading – 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12
Beloved:2 Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.
3 As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”
4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.
5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light.
10 Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
11 I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul.
12 Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
2 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;serve the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful song.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
3 Know that the LORD is God;he made us, his we are;his people, the flock he tends.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,his courts with praise;Give thanks to him;bless his name.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
5 The LORD is good:his kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations.R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.12 I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will have the light of life.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
46 They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road begging.
47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus! Son of David! Take pity on me!”
48 Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, take pity on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
50 He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. “Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again.”
52 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your faith has made you well.” At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road.
I thank all my subscribers for your constant support of this channel. If you like the content I am sharing, subscribe to this channel and experience peace, joy, and faithful friendship in your life and with your family.
Join our community, share your thoughts, and find solace and strength in the loving protection of Mother Mary. Subscribe now and embark on a spiritual journey with us.
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 348
|| || |1st Reading|1 Peter 1:10-16| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4| |The Acclamation|Matthew 11:25| |Gospel|Mark 10:28-31|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, Today’s Gospel Reading Mark 10:28-31, essentially contains three promises made by Jesus: What he's saying is that God is greater than the disciples, even those of us who now follow Jesus. Beyond everything we could ever give up for him, God will bless them and us. He cautions that despite God's great blessings, persecutions of Jesus' disciples will still occur on this side of eternity.
My dear friends, He assures us of our everlasting existence. In other words, the benefits that the disciples would experience from their heavenly Father will greatly surpass the sacrifices they made for their faith.
Let us labor diligently in the Kingdom of God so that we could receive all three of these gifts from His Hands.
Let us Pray
Father, I am extremely grateful for your generosity. Being one of your offspring will bring me far more blessings than I can ever dream. In the face of adversity, discouragement, and persecution, please help me to hold onto that hope. Amen.
10 Beloved: It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you.
11 They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow.
12 God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.
13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant.
15 Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy.
16 The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,for he has done wondrous deeds;His right hand has won victory for him,his holy arm.R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known:in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.3AB He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulnesstoward the house of Israel.R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
3CD All the ends of the earth have seenthe salvation by our God.4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;break into song; sing praise.R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.25 Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
28 Peter began to say to Jesus, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29 “Yes,” Jesus said to them, “and I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel,
30 will receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life.
31 But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.”
thank all my subscribers for your constant support of this channel. If you like the content I am sharing, subscribe to this channel and experience peace, joy, and faithful friendship in your life and with your family.
Join our community, share your thoughts, and find solace and strength in the loving protection of Mother Mary. Subscribe now and embark on a spiritual journey with us.
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 347
|| || |1st Reading|1 Peter 1:3-9| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 AND 10C| |The Acclamation|2 Corinthians 8:9| |Gospel|Mark 10:17-27|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, Mark 10:17–27 is the passage from Today's Gospel. As if that weren't already enough, Jesus invites the man to come, join Him and, sell everything, and give the entire proceeds to the underprivileged.
My dear friends, Today's Gospel Reading is Mark 10:17–27. This literature primarily focuses on money and how it affects a person's ability or willingness to give it up to follow Jesus and become a disciple. The Gospel Reading for Today, Mark 10:17–27, also teaches us that we need to be kind and compassionate to others around us if we wish to have a closer relationship with God.
Let us Pray
Let's pray for contentment with what we already have. Agreeing with Paul when he says, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, in addition to that, to be content," is the ultimate wisdom. Amen.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you
5 who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,
7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
9 as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heartin the company and assembly of the just.2 Great are the works of the LORD,exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
5 He has given food to those who fear him;he will forever be mindful of his covenant.6 He has made known to his people the power of his works,giving them the inheritance of the nations. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
9 He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name. 10C His praise endures forever. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.9 Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,so that by his poverty you might become rich.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
17 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments:You shall not kill;you shall not commit adultery;you shall not steal;you shall not bear false witness;you shall not defraud;honor your father and your mother.”
20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
22 At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Lectionary: 165
|| || |1st Reading|Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22| |2nd Reading|Romans 8:14-17| |The Acclamation|Revelation 1:8| |Gospel|Matthew 28:16-20|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, What is meant by the Great Commission? Affirming our conviction in a single God existing in three Divine Persons, we commemorate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity today.
My dear friends, The Holy Trinity teaches us what? In it, God's attributes—holy, eternal, and sovereign—as well as his interactions with humanity—as Creator, Savior, Advocate, and Judge—are revealed, along with his expectations for us—to love and honor each other in the same manner that each member of the Trinity loves and honors the others.
What does Trinity Sunday's emblem represent? Trinity symbol: the Crown represents the Father, the Cross represents the Son Jesus Christ, and the Dove represents the Holy Spirit. These three hypostases symbolize the one God. Let us worship the One in Trinity, the Trinity in One, the genuine God, says the antiphon.
Let us Pray
Eternal God, we ask that you bless your human family with peace and that our destructive and violent ways may end through the reconciling love of Christ. We pray for your church's mission so that, enabled by your Spirit, we can share the good news of the age with the people you hold in the highest regard. Amen.
32 Moses said to the people: “Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of?
33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
34 Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
39 This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.
40 You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”
4 Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.5 He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;by the breath of his mouth all their host.9 For he spoke, and it was made;he commanded, and it stood forth.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,19 To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD,who is our help and our shield.22 May your kindness, O LORD, be upon uswho have put our hope in you.R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Brothers and sisters:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Acclamation – Revelation 1:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.8 Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;to God who is, who was, and who is to come.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
17 When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
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Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time,
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Lectionary: 352
|| || |1st Reading|Jude 1:17, 20B-25| |Responsorial Psalm|Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6| |The Acclamation|Colossians 3:16A, 17C| |Gospel|Mark 11:27-33|
Today’s Gospel Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, Do you feel the freedom and joy that come from living under Christ's rule? Then, let us carry on with our daily, numerous prayers for wisdom. Regardless of the extent of our knowledge, so many of the decisions that are needed of us will be inadequate if we rely solely on it.
My dear friends, To set the scene and direct application, wisdom is required. We are aware that when we focus our souls on seeking Wisdom and paying attention to the song it sings, we will feel "joy in our hearts."
Let us Pray
"Lord, show me what joy and freedom your authority brings into my life. Lord, teach me your methods so that I can live by your Word and become more aware of your Truth. Amen.
17 Beloved, remember what you were told in the past by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
20B Keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.
22 Show mercy towards those who have doubts;
23 Save others by snatching them out of the fire; and to others show mercy mixed with fear, but hate their very clothes, stained by their sinful lusts.
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling, and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence
25 To the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and for ever and ever! Amen.
2 O God, you are my God whom I seek;for you my flesh pines and my soul thirstslike the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
3 Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuaryto see your power and your glory,4 For your kindness is a greater good than life;my lips shall glorify you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
5 Thus will I bless you while I live;lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.6 As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.16A Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;17A giving thanks to God the Father through him.R. Alleluia, alleluia.
27 They arrived once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders came to him
28 and asked him, “What right have you to do these things? Who gave you this right?”
29 Jesus answered them, “I will ask you just one question, and if you give me an answer, I will tell you what right I have to do these things.
30 Tell me, where did John’s right to baptize come from: was it from God or from human beings?”
31 They started to argue among themselves: “What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,’ he will say, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?’
32 But if we say, ‘From human beings… ‘ ” (They were afraid of the people, because everyone was convinced that John had been a prophet.)
33 So their answer to Jesus was, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things.”
I thank all my subscribers for your constant support of this channel. If you like the content I am sharing, subscribe to this channel and experience peace, joy, and faithful friendship in your life and with your family.
Join our community, share your thoughts, and find solace and strength in the loving protection of Mother Mary. Subscribe now and embark on a spiritual journey with us.
Not every story of a saint encountering a dragon ends up with the dragon being slain; sometimes, the saint finds a way to live in harmony with the dragon: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/05/harmony-with-all/
Daily mass readings : Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
Reading I : Zep 3:14-18a
Or Rom 12:9-16
Gospel : Lk 1:39-56
https://thecatholic.online/daily-mass-readings-for-may-31-2024/
